ABOUT ME

I was introduced to Yoga in 2000 while completing my Masters in the Counseling and Depth Psychology program at Pacific Graduate Institute. Although for 20 years I had enjoyed a successful career as a commercial real estate appraiser, and would not retire from that job for another 10 years, I knew I was searching for something more. I had been introduced to the psychology of Carl Jung in 1992 and have been interested in studying dreams ever since. I have spent 20 of the past 25 years in a monthly dream group.  When I was introduced to yoga it helped me see the thread that connected these areas of study that for years held fascination for me; dreams, mental health, depth psychology, and spirituality. 

In 2004 I was introduced to Yoga for healing as taught by T Krishnamacharya. I have been a student in this tradition ever since, and have been studying several years with my teacher Kate Holcombe.  

In 2006 I traveled to India with several other yoga teachers who were also friends, and with whom I had been teaching and studying.  Upon returning home we decided to open our own yoga studio, Yoga Sanga. (yoga-sanga.com) I have been teaching yoga there ever since.  From 2006 through 2017 I taught the Beginner’s Class.  In 2018 I felt drawn to teach a class with the intention of spiritual connection in place of the Beginner’s Class.  For several years I have facilitated the Yoga Sutra class at our studio. 

I received teacher certification from Healing Yoga Foundation. I received my certification as a Yoga Therapist (1,000 hour) from KHYF.  This training included 2 internships at the Krishnamacharaya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai, India.  I also received an advanced teacher training, also in the lineage of Krishnamacharaya, to support work with those with a cancer diagnosis.  I am a registered 500RYT with Yoga Alliance. (Yoga Alliance does not regulate Yoga Therapy Certifications; it is regulated by the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT)).  I also hold a license from the State of Louisiana as professional counselor (LPC). In 2016, I obtained certification as a Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) from the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT).  

Although I have maintained a private practice as a therapist (LPC) since 2007, since obtaining my yoga therapy certification I have also worked as a contract yoga therapist at different venues. For 6 years (2013-2019) I taught two weekly classes at the Hammond, La. VA to veterans who were diagnosed with mental health issues. For several years I also co-taught a class at Oschner Medical Center in Covington for cancer patients. I also have experience as a yoga therapist at Jefferson Oaks, an outpatient mental health facility.

In addition, I have served as a teacher assistant in the Yoga Well Institute yoga teacher training and yoga therapy training in Nashville, TN., founded by Chase Bossart.  Additionally I am on the faculty for Amy Wheeler’s Optimal State of Living yoga therapy training headquartered in California. I am so grateful to be able to work with and continue to study with both of these leaders in the yoga therapy community.  

I absolutely love this work and feel amazingly blessed in so many ways to be able to work as a yoga therapist.   In addition to working with individual clients with a variety of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual concerns, I also mentor other yoga teachers and yoga therapists with such topics as assisting in course planning for their classes and therapy clients, helping to design pranayama and meditation practices, teaching yoga philosophy, as well as serve as their mirror and yoga therapist when needed.  Most of those I mentor are studying in my tradition of TKV Desikachar and Krisnamacaraya, however I also mentor those in other traditions, particularly some who are exploring their spiritual connection.